Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji on Yugadi day – April 11 – Hyderabad , 2013
We met last evening in the Nandana year. Again today this year Vijaya we are meeting once gain. It is our great fortune that we have all assembled in the Guru sannidhi on this very auspicious day. At all times, we seek three desires- firstly health (arogya), secondly prosperity (aishwarya) and lastly knowledge (jnana). We presume that this is the correct order. This is totally wrong. We should first desire good health, jnana (knowledge) and lastly prosperity.
For our intellect (buddhi), and indriya (various senses) to be sharp, we should pray to the planetary deities (graha devatas) who are responsible for those body parts. Very few are aware of this secret. People of other religions too, worship their deities with different names and different chakras and konas. Names and directions are different, that’s all.
Hindu dharma is the very first dharma and it had its inception at the beginning of creation. In such a situation, every festival celebrated by Hindus is replete with essence and meaning. Even the dishes prepared by them for the festival, dresses worn, decorations made for the puja, the vrata (puja) performed, the method adopted for the puja or vrata, the way of thinking, the approach to life all have a deep scientific background.
Paramatma has created Jnana (knowledge) and Vignana (ability of discrimination, thought-faculty). Why? So that they can counter and dissolve ajnana (ignorance). We humans, who should abide by Jnana and Vignana are following the path of ignorance (ajnana). This is our sheer ill luck.
Good devotees (sadbhakta) like you, should try to find out the significance behind each festival celebrated. Then watching you, some of those people who do not celebrate the festivals will get inspired and will then begin to celebrate them. If those who are celebrating the festivals understand the significance and essence hidden within them, then they will be able to appreciate and enjoy the festivities at a much deeper level.
Why do we offer our obeisance to God? Are we offering our obeisance (namaskara) just because those around us are doing so? Why do we offer a coconut to God? We simply break a coconut and offer to God just because others are doing so. Why do we worship cows? On the one hand, we witness killing of cows, while on the other we observe people worshipping them. It appears strange to our eyes.
Those who worship cows (Go puja) should instead of opposing the slaughter of cows, learn to offer protection (rakshana) to the cows. Then automatically the killing of cows will stop by itself. Without any rhyme or reason, we harm cows. The cow serves us in many ways. Through its milk it provides us with nourishment. In addition, its urine and its dung are used for medicinal purposes. After its death, its bones and its skin all are put to different uses. In various ways and various forms we are benefiting because of the cow.
We take great pride in wearing leather shoes. These days everybody carries a leather bag/purse with them, as it is a fashion. We are not even aware whether it was made from the skin of a cow or of a buffalo. We are ignorant as to how this leather is obtained and manufactured. At one point of time, when people found out about the process of its manufacture, they had completely given up wearing leather shoes. Automatically slaughtering of cows stopped at that time. We behave in such an ignorant way.
When we board the plane and go overseas, people drape around them clothes made from animal skin. All this amounts to harming (himsa) animals. We take away from them, the skin with which they were born. We use the animal product and then kick away that animal ruthlessly with our leg. Where have the feelings of friendliness and amity (sadbhavana) gone?
Only when the human being develops this compassion towards animals (prani daya), only then the well being of this world will be attained. At least for the sake of the animals, Paramatma will ensure timely rainfall. At least for their sake, He will ensure that crops are plentiful. We have absolutely no idea of the help that we are deriving from animals.
Taking away the products from those animals that have met a natural death may not count as a harm/injury (himsa), but killing animals for the sake of their products is really a himsa. It is really pitiable. Harming living animals is equivalent of harming your own children.
Perhaps today we may question, “Swamiji, when there is inadequate food for our survival, from where are we to bring grass/fodder for these animals?” Do you think that for the past many eons, man has been producing/ creating the grass needed for its fodder? Reflect about it. Did they not, in the past eons, rear millions and trillions of cows? In Nanda Gokula (where Krishna was brought up), the person who reared a thousand cows was titled a Sardar, the person who reared ten thousand cows was a King (raja) and the one who reared a crore (10 million) cows was an Emperor (chakravarti). Do you think that there was no fodder for so many cows at that time?
Talking about demons, from each drop of blood of these demons that fell to the ground, hundreds and thousands of demons were born. Did their population not multiply? Did they not survive? Apart from eating animals they even ate human beings and survived. Do you know how many bacteria, insects and worms are surviving in this creation? Are we supplying the food needed for their survival? Can we supply? Do we have such capacity? Without any aid from us, are they not surviving?
We have killed thousands and millions of mosquitoes. Yet, how are they regenerating again? Are we responsible? No. This is sristhi (creation). It is a maya (illusion). It falsely appears as if it can be stopped. When we sweat, we use a wooden fan to fan ourselves. When the cool air touches our skin, we say, “Oh, what a cold air is blowing.” Is the air really cool? No. When the existing air blows upon your skin, the sweat present on your skin becomes cold making you feel cool. Both the heat and the cold were generated within your body itself. This is Paramatma’s creation. Can we reproduce such a creation? Is it humanly possible?
Living under an illusion, we always love to take credit for our deeds. “Oh, I did this. I am responsible for this good action. It is all my work, my ability”. What an imagination we have! All this is puppetry. In Telugu it is called ‘tolu bommalaata’ (puppet dance). What a deep significance is hidden in these words- puppet dance. Puppets are actually human caricatures (cartoons, dolls resembling humans), made out of the hide of sheep, cows or buffaloes. They are then painted to accurately resemble human faces. The puppets are tied to sticks and the master artisan deftly operates them and makes them dance by handling these sticks from behind the curtains. Shadow puppetry is also done. When the shadow of these puppets falls on the screen, we get completely engrossed into the play created, and spend hours together enjoying the show.
These days many new techniques in animation have been developed. On screen we see people fighting with weapons and then killing each other and so on. In reality, all that exists is a table. Using new camera tricks, the dolls created by them are made to move in a slow motion. Yet, when we watch them, these animations put us into an illusion and take us to a faraway plane. We shell out trillions of dollars upon them and appreciate their animation techniques and skills.
Once when you visit their studios in Los Angeles, Las Vegas or Hollywood you will understand. ‘Is this all?’ you will wonder. One of the devotees has set up such animation factory there. I had been to see it. They create the image of an actor and make him speak and fight. When he fights and talks, we are impressed. We who are living in this world of illusion, are drowning further deep into the mire. I am not suggesting that you should stop watching such movies. All I say is that you should not take it seriously.
Very similar to this animation, is our creation, which was born from the womb of time (kala garbha). We imagine that we are living in a human body, that we have dropped one body to be born elsewhere, we leave that life and are reborn at some other place and so on. We imagine that we are enjoying luxuries and are living out our desires. Through the 9 forms of emotion (nava vidha rasa) we are fuelling this body and making it enact. All this is our bhavana (mental perceptions and feelings).
Where is the energy for this body coming from? To whom does the energy that is within you belong? How much of that energy have you brought with you here? How many kilograms of energy are left? This energy cannot be seen with the eyes. We should understand that this body is functioning with that invisible energy.
When we have some bodily affliction, we chase the doctor with full faith, seeking relief from it. If one medicine does not give relief, the doctor changes the medicine. The medicine does not matter. We need relief. It does not matter whether it is a mantra or a yantra or a medicine or some deity. All we seek is relief from our suffering. If we find relief we run behind that method only.
Always remember one thing. All these afflictions are only to the body. If we are to rid ourselves of our destiny (kharma), we should abide by our dharmas or traditions (achara) that has been prescribed. Since we have been born in this family and this country, we have to abide by the traditions (achaara) being practiced here.
In this context let me tell you that the traditions that we all follow at home are all a science. There are scientific reasons behind them. We should not make fun of our traditions. If our tradition says that we should wash our feet before sitting down to eat, then it should simply be followed. That’s all. Do not say that I had worn shoes and hence my feet are not dirty. In India we have the facility to wash our feet in our bathrooms. So there is no problem in practicing it. In America, such a facility does not exist. Even the bathrooms are carpeted. I know many people who, on their maiden visit to America, washed their feet on the carpet itself, thinking that this was the accepted practice there. The wet carpet created a mess. There are many others who watered the artificial plants mistaking them for real. They were just following the practices that they followed while in India.
Our traditions are different from those followed in those countries. In our country, many traditions have been coming down for many eons. It is important to follow them. We have many different ways of worshipping the Supreme Almighty. There are so many beliefs and faiths. No one should disturb the faith of others.
So many eons have come and gone. So many new years (Yugadi) have come and gone. We are witnessing them and shall continue to witness them till the end of this life. After death, if we are reborn once again, then again we will be witnessing them. As we are a part of this time, we should worship the Kala Purusha (eternal time). We offer the Yugadi song to this Kala Purusha. The name of this year is Vijaya. We welcome this year and we pray that dharma (righteousness) and truth (satya) should prevail. ‘Guru’ is the king for this year. So we have the confidence that prosperity will be achieved in every field.
Swamiji always wishes that the Mother Earth should overflow with prosperity. We should always wish good at all times, as deities (tathstu devatas) always say ‘so be it’ to our wishes. Hence it is essential to use auspicious words at all times. Do not entertain negative or doubtful thoughts. Do not say ‘it may or may not materialize’. Why do you use the word ‘may not’? There are devotees who think, “Who knows whether I would get Swamiji’s darshan today or not?” then be sure that you will not get his darshan. This is because in the end, you used the negative word ‘or not’. The last word is the most important one. Faith is the greatest energy. Faith itself will create. We should use this faith properly. Hence develop positive thoughts.
We should not be losers. We should not give up. We should not curse ourselves. We should not be disappointed. We should not consider ourselves as incapable of handling the troubles or tasks that we have. We should not say, “Oh, I cannot complete this task.” Instead we should say, “Oh, the Lord knew that I could handle it. That is why he showered this difficulties upon me”.
You are old, constantly complaining and yet you are carrying this load. You have reached the ripe old age and may pass away any moment; yet, you are unable to get rid of your desires. Even today you are grieving for those children of yours who have deserted you and gone away. You moan for them neglecting those children who are by your side. Tomorrow even these children will think, “Anyway she worries for that son who is not here. From tomorrow let me also not show my face to her’. You also grieve for that being who has left the earth a long time ago. What is the use of this grief? That being may have been reborn already somewhere. You do not know his address and he does not know yours. In between for a temporary period, you met. That’s all.
There are some mothers who neglect the first child after the second one is born. The eldest child feels the pain. Its stomach boils in anger. It wishes to pinch the little one. You should give the eldest child its share of love and affection and then take care of the younger one. Especially where the first child is a daughter and the second a son, the mother neglects the daughter pinning her future hope on this son. Do you realize that by doing this, you are teaching hatred and jealousy to the first child who doesn’t even possess her own thinking and intellect? Where the first child is a boy, he will pinch and kick his younger sibling. If it is a girl child, although it is painful, she will simply learn to adjust. This should be corrected.
Instead of thinking about our children, we should think about Paramatma. We should always think about our senior (Paramatma) and not our juniors.
Jaya Guru Datta.
Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji on Yugadi day after dolotsavam – April 11 – Hyderabad , 2013
Approximately about 3000 bhajans have been put together into one computer application. This can be accessed through the ipad and iphone and Samsung phones. Both the audio and the lyrics are easily available in it. Using this application it is easy to learn the bhajans. All our bhajan CD’s area available in Flipkart and in Itunes (Indian). Guru Gita and Shatashloki Ramayana are available as a free download in iphone.
Having purchased these IPad and I phones, you should also learn to use them appropriately. Not knowing to use them adequately is like buying an expensive car and not knowing how to open the door itself. Swamiji is sending messages and quotes daily through facebook. Using your phones and IPad you can access all these messages.
Swamiji is training parrots to say Rama, Jaya Guru Datta, Datta etc. There is one bird which wakes me up by 5 AM every morning. It sits by my window and screams- ‘Appaji, Appaji’ endlessly. Another bird keeps calling- ‘Swamiji, Swamiji’. Yet another bird calls everyone who passes by- ‘Datta re’. A video about these birds was put up in ‘You tube’ and many people across the globe have seen it. I have a bird that speaks in Tamil. It asks – ‘Saapaad ayacha?’ (Have you eaten?) and will continue to ask till I reply- ‘ayachu’. (Yes, finished)
Do you know why your Swamiji has kept himself away from all programs in the last couple of months? This is because he has fallen into the illusion (maya) created by those birds. You have no idea for whose benefit this bird project is being done and which beings (souls) are being elevated through this. One day, when a good devotee of mine met with an accident, a bird here lost its leg. That devotee was saved. This bird sacrificed its leg for him. At another time, in a train accident two or three devotees were to lose their legs. In lieu of them a bird sacrificed its legs. It is now being reared very carefully like a small infant. These birds are very well toilet trained too.
When I asked my devotees to recite the mantras, ‘Datta, Rama’ etc. a lakh times, no one obliged. Now many of them are rearing parrots. They now sit by the bird and in order to speak to it, endlessly say ‘Rama, Rama’ or ‘Datta, Datta’. Now I have understood the trick. If I ask them to rear a parrot, then they will automatically begin to perform naama japa at home!
I am not asking all of you to rear parrots. I am telling you that you too should teach the little children at home to recite the names of the Lord.
Jaya Guru Datta.
Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji on ETV on the occasion of Ugadi – April 11 , 2013
Already the year ‘Nandana’ has gone by, paving the way for the year ‘Vijaya’. Time flies fast. Ugadi is the first day of the new year. This is the day on which Lord Brahma began His creation. As today is the first day of the new year, first day of the first month of the year (Chatira Month) and the first day of the first season of the year (Vasanta Rutu), today (Ugadi) is considered to be a very auspicious day. The good and noble resolutions made today will be rendered fruitful. Karyasiddhi (successful accomplishment) will be achieved.
Beginning today, the nine days up to Sri Rama Navami are termed as ‘Vasanta Navaratri’. Worshipping Lord Rama and conducting parayana of Ramayana during this period yields very special results. On this day the tradition states that one should wake up in the very early hours, take head bath, wear new clothes and worship the kula daiva (family deity) or ishta daiva (one’s chosen deity). Blessings of the elders should be sought and Ugadi Pachadi (the special dish made today) should be partaken.
Panchanga should be read. Through the reading of this Panchanga, the good and bad times can be identified and the life can be adjusted in accordance to suit it. Through this understanding, in this journey of life, victory can be achieved. For this reason, our elders were dependent on this Panchanga before and after the completion of every task. Auspicious time-slots, based on Panchanga, were selected for commencement of new tasks and through this they managed to achieve unimaginable victory in their tasks. Through these achievements they remained as ideal personalities for the modern generation.
It is extremely essential to read the five limbs of the Panchanga i.e. Tithi (day of the lunar fortnight), Vaara (day of the week), Nakshatra (prevailing star), Yoga and Karanam on every single day. Through the understanding of the auspicious and inauspicious times, the journey of life can be rendered smooth. The ups and downs can be faced effectively.
Based on the Panchanga for this year, it can be said that people in general will be moral (neeti marga). They will adhere to dharma and will walk on its path. Rains and crops will be plentiful. Prices will fluctuate. In every field, the ups and downs, joys and sorrows will be balanced throughout the year. Great changes can be expected. In this year, may the blessings of Kala Purusha ensure that everyone achieves victory, gets the strength to withstand the ups and downs of life effectively and may everyone be blessed with the grace of their Kula daiva (family diety) and Ishta deva (one’s chosen diety). May the grace of Adiguru Datta be showered upon all!
Compiled by: Parimala Eshwarla